Best of Jersey 35

Number 35 might not be the first number that comes to mind when you think of NFL superstars. But don't be fooled! This jersey has a rich history filled with dominant running backs, lockdown cornerbacks, and some true game-changers.

In this article, we're counting down the greatest NFL players who wore number 35, taking you on a journey through their careers. Prepare to be surprised by a diverse group of athletes, from rushing powerhouses like Terrell Davis to shutdown cornerbacks like Champ Bailey. 2nd string no more – these are the true legends who rocked number 35!

On this edition of the Football by Numbers series will be coming up with the top ten best NFL players to wear the number 35 !

The Hall of Fame gives us our starting point with these players...

Aeneas Williams

Born January 29, 1968 - - The great defensive back from Southern University, Aeneas Williams was born. Aeneas played in the NFL for 14 seasons after being the Arizona Cardinals 3rd round pick in 1991 according to the ProFootballHOF.com. For his first 12 seasons he manned the cornerback position and then moved to Safety for his final two years. Williams played in 8 Pro Bowls and recorded 55 career interceptions with 807 yards returned off of them. One of his highlight moments occurred in a 2000 game against Washington when he returned a fumble 104 yards for a score. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Aeneas Williams in 2014.

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Walt Kiesling

Born May 27, 1903, in St. Paul, Minnesota, was Pro Football Hall of Fame Lineman and Coach Walt Kiesling. Kiesling played college football at the University of St. Thomas. Walt played 13 years as a guard and tackle in the NFL with the Duluth Eskimos (1926–1927), Pottsville Maroons (1928), Chicago Cardinals (1929–1933), Chicago Bears (1934), Green Bay Packers (1935–1936), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1937–1938). Kiesling also spent 25 years as a coach or aide for NFL teams, including seven years as head coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates/Steelers from 1939 to 1942 and 1954 to 1956. He provided Pittsburgh's first franchise winning season in 1942. He was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966 and was named to the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team in 1969.

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Pete Pihos

Born October 22, 1923 in Orlando, Florida - Pete Pihos the fantastic end and later fullback from Indiana University was noted by multiple experts in 1943, including noted sports writer Grantland Rice, to be one of the top receivers in college football that season. He was an All-American in multiple polls in 1943 but then served his country in the war efforts the following season. The National Football Foundation selected Pete Pihos to enter into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966. After graduation Pete was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1945. After a two year delay to complete his military obligations Pete played as a two-way end in Philly. The Eagles, in 1952 found themselves in need of a defensive end. Knowing the skill set of Pihos they called on his versatility, and he not only took the field with the “D” but he earned All-NFL honors in doing so! Then for the remaining three years of his career, he switched back to offense and led the league in receiving all three seasons. Pete Pihos entered into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

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Bullet Bill Dudley

Born December 24, 1921, in Bluefield, Virginia  was the University of Virginia’s legendary halfback Bullet Bill Dudley. Some so-called experts thought Dudley was too small to play football in the collegiate ranks as he weighed in at 152 pounds with a 5’-10” frame per the NFF. Virginia’s Coach Frank Murray decided to give Bill a chance to prove all of the other recruiters wrong. What Dudley did was to become the only player to win MVP honors in college,  the Armed Forces and professional levels. During the 1941 season Bullet Bill led the nation with 18 touchdowns, 134 points scored, a 6.2 rushing average per play and 29 touchdowns. The National Football Foundation selected Bill Dudley into their College Football Hall of Fame in 1956. The Pittsburgh Steelers did not hesitate a second to pick Bill and the first pick in the 1942 Draft of the NFL. In his 9 pro seasons he had 8217 total yards and recorded 23 interceptions and played in 3 Pro Bowls. In fact the Pro Football Hall says that Bill won a rare triple crown of awards in the NFL, he was the interception leader, the top rusher and held the punt return title in 1946. Bill Dudley found the door wide open for him to enter into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966.

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Earl Campbell

Born March 29, 1955, in Tyler, Texas, was Earl Campbell the powerful back of the Texas Longhorns from 1974 through 1977. His nickname forever ties him to his hometown as Earl is still called "the Tyler Rose" as he pounded out big gains at the University of Texas. The NFF says he rushed for 4,443 yards. This was the fifth highest total of all time when he retired. His rushing covered 928 yards as a freshman, 1118 as a sophomore, 653 as a junior (he missed four games), and 1,744 as a senior. Campbell was All-America as a sophomore and senior, led the nation in rushing and scoring and won the Heisman Trophy in 1977. He had an amazing 21 times where he rushed over 100 yards and three over 200 yards rushing in games. The Houston Oilers during the 1978 NFL Draft wasted no time in turning their draft pick card with the first player selected to the Commissioner that had the name of Earl Campbell on it. Earl played 8 seasons with the Oilers and earned a rushing title, the distinction as an All-Pro and was selected to play in three Pro Bowls. The 1980 season as his best as he pounded out 1934 yards with 4 games over 200 yards. For his NFL career, he amassed 9407 yards rushing and 74 TDs with another 806 yards on 121 receptions. Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined Earl Campbell in 1991.

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John Henry Johnson

Born November 24, 1929 - John Henry Johnson was a great fullback who attended St. Mary’s University and was the second pick in the 1953 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers as told on the profootballhof.com internet site. Johnson rushed for over 1000 yards in both the 1962 and 1964 seasons and was the first Steeler to ever accomplish the feat. After his contract ended in Pittsburgh he played in the CFL for a season and then returned to the NFL with the 49ers, and Detroit Lions and then played his 13th and final por season with the AFL’s Houston Oilers. After the dust on his brilliant career had settled, Johnson accounted for 6803 career rushing yards and ranked him fourth on the All-Time rushing list. The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrined John Henry Johnson in the class of 1987.

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• Calvin Hill
• Neal Anderson
• William White
• Christian Okoye
• Martin Mayhew
• Jim Nance
• Keith Lyle
• Glenn Doughty
• Galen Fiss
• Hewritt Dixon
• Jim Otis
• Mike Tolbert
• Marion Butts
• Roland Harper
• Smokey Stover
• Bo Scott
• Alvin Hall
• Eric Reid
• Tommy Morrow
• Joique Bell
• Larry Schreiber
• Steve Smith
• Joe Childress

1. Aeneas Williams
2. Bill Dudley
3. Pete Pihos
4. John Henry Johnson
5. Calvin Hill
6. Neal Anderson
7. Earl Campbell
8. Walt Kiesling
9. Christian Okoye
10. Mike Tolbert

Do you agree or disagree with our list? We would love to get your feedback, so email us at PigskinDispatch@gmail.com.

A speical thanks to the Pro Football Reference website for information they share on these great players. Check them out at Pro-Football-Reference.com

The Image used above is courtesy of Google Gemini and others from Wikimedia Commons. It is pleasing to see such vivid images of the jerseys that point out the uniform number and help us identify the legends that wore it.